Spain Backs Palestinian UN Bid, U.K. Sets Conditions

Spain said it will back the
Palestinians’ bid to win recognition as a state at the United
Nations while the U.K. set conditions for its vote and Germany
ruled out support.

U.K. Foreign Secretary William Hague said Britain will
abstain unless the Palestinians commit to talks without
preconditions and agree not to sign up to the International
Criminal Court.

He was speaking after Spanish Foreign Minister
Jose-Manuel Garcia-Margallo told the national parliament in
Madrid that Spain will vote in favor. Germany won’t vote for the
resolution and will work “closely” with European Union allies
on the UN Security Council, government spokesman Steffen Seibert
said today.

“Up until the time of the vote itself we will remain open
to voting in favor if we see public assurances from the
Palestinians,” Hague told lawmakers in the House of Commons in
London today. “In the absence of assurances we will abstain on
the vote.”

Delegates are set to vote tomorrow on a resolution
circulated Nov. 8 by the Palestinian Authority that would put
the Palestine Liberation Organization on par with the Holy See
as a non-member state at the UN. Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz told Army Radio today that “surprises” are in store
for the Palestinians if they proceed with the move.

France and Russia have already said they will support the
proposal. No country has veto power in the General Assembly, so
the U.S., which opposes the initiative, can’t block it.

Conditions

Hague said Britain’s support is contingent on Palestinian
statements and redrafting of the resolution to guarantee the
restart of talks without preconditions, that the International
Criminal Court will not be called in to adjudicate on activities
in the occupied territories and that nothing in the resolution
prejudges deliberations by the UN’s Security Council.

“It’s important that we use our vote to try to say to both
sides in this conflict we need talks without preconditions,”
Prime Minister David Cameron told lawmakers today. “The only
way we’re going to see a peace process that works is if Israelis
and Palestinians come to the table.”